Photoluminescent coaster

ABSTRACT

A coaster device includes a substrate including a brightening agent on its upper surface and a photoluminescent layer on, or impregnated into, the upper surface. The photoluminescent layer on said upper surface absorbs radiant energy and emits radiant energy in the form of light. The substrate is optionally formed from a moisture absorbent material, a moisture resistant material, or a combination thereof. Optionally, a case may be provided to receive and at least partially encase the substrate.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to devices for protecting surfaces. Morespecifically, the present invention is a photoluminescent coaster.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Use of coasters is a well-known way to avoid damage to tabletops andother furniture from the temperature variances of glasses, cups, orbottles, from condensation or other moisture on their exterior, or evenfrom scratches and abrasions from hard or sharp surfaces. Comedyroutines have been written about compulsive hosts who keep puttingcoasters under their guests' drinks, or who use two coasters in case onedoesn't work or is not enough.

Coasters come in many forms and shapes: wood, metal, plastic, cloth,cardboard or paper; squares, circles, flowers, hearts, diamonds,cup-shapes, hat-shaped, virtually any planar figure which approximatesthe size of the bottom of a glass, a bottle, a cup, or a saucer.Restaurants, bars, breweries, and distilleries have recognized theadvertising utility of coasters, imprinting messages and advertisementson their surfaces, touting their wares and services. Coasters havebecome so pervasive that they are hardly noticed any longer.

There is a need for a coaster, or coaster-like device, which providesthe protective function of a coaster, but draws attention to itself andits message. One way of doing so is to provide a coaster which lightsup, which glows in the dark. As coasters are often used in dimly litbars and restaurants, or on a romantically set table for two, a glowingcoaster will stand out; it will be easy to locate; it will provide anexclamation point to its message, even if that message is nothing butthe implicit “use me.” However, as a coaster is of necessity a highlyportable item, and an often wet item, a traditional power source, be itbattery or household outlet, is generally contraindicated. Rather, aself-contained, self-generating, light source is preferable, such as anintegrated phosphorescence. A coaster with a photoluminescent surface,revealing a message, a logo, or just a location, will be noticed, easilylocated, and provide a unique advertising medium when used in the properenvirons.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A coaster device includes a substrate having an upper surface and alower surface. In an optional embodiment, the substrate may be formedfrom a moisture absorbent material, such as paper, cardboard, or otherpulp-based material, sandstone, or the like. In another optionalembodiment, the substrate may be formed from a moisture resistantmaterial, such as plastic, wax, or the like. In a further optionalembodiment, the coaster may include a substrate formed from a moistureabsorbent material with a moisture resistant material applied to thelower surface of the substrate.

The substrate has a brightening agent on at least the upper surface ofthe substrate. The brightening agent could be applied to the uppersurface of the substrate or integrated into the material of at least theupper surface of the substrate.

A photoluminescent layer on the upper surface absorbs radiant energy andemits radiant energy in the form of light when the level of radiantenergy available for absorption falls below a predetermined level. Thephotoluminescent layer may be applied to the upper surface or may beimpregnated into the upper surface. Optionally, the photoluminescentlayer may form a moisture resistant layer over the substrate.Optionally, a transparent or translucent case is provided to at leastpartially receive and encase the substrate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of an optional embodiment of a device according tothe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cutaway side view of the optional embodiment of FIG. 1 takenalong section line A-A;

FIG. 3 is a top view of an optional embodiment of a device according tothe present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the optional embodiment of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made to the figures wherein like parts are referred toby like numerals throughout. The device of the present invention is aphotoluminescent coaster that absorbs light and glows in the dark.Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a coaster device according to an embodimentof the present invention consists of a substrate 110 with an uppersurface and a lower surface.

In an optional embodiment, the substrate 110 may be formed from amoisture absorbent material. Examples of moisture absorbent materialcould include paper, cardboard, or other pulp materials, wood, cotton orpolyester cloth or other natural or synthetic textile material,sandstone, or any other material that tends to absorb water on contact.In another optional embodiment, the substrate 110 could be formed from amoisture resistant material, such as plastic or other polymer, or othermaterials that tend to resist moisture. In yet another optionalembodiment, the substrate 110 could be formed from a material with amoisture resistant surface. In such an optional embodiment, thephotoluminescent layer 120 (described in greater detail below) may beapplied over the moisture resistant surface, under the moistureresistant surface, or may form the moisture resistant surface, at leastin part. For example, the photoluminescent layer 120 may form a coatingover the substrate 110, at least in the places where it is applied.Those places where the photoluminescent layer 120 is not applied mayremain uncoated or may be coated using a sealant or other material.

At least the upper surface of the substrate 110 includes a brighteningagent. The brightening agent could include colorants, dyes, pigments, oroptical brightening agents. The brightening agent may be integrated intothe material forming the substrate 110 or may be applied to the uppersurface of the substrate 110. For example, in one optional embodimentthe substrate 110 may be a heavy paper stock with a brightening agentintegrated into the substrate during the manufacturing process. In analternate optional embodiment, the brightening agent may be applied tothe upper surface of the foundation substrate component 110 as acoating, a dye, or a stain, or otherwise integrated into at least theupper surface of the substrate.

A photoluminescent layer 120 is on the upper surface of the substrate110. In an optional embodiment, the photoluminescent layer 120 may beapplied to the upper surface of the substrate, such as through printing,or otherwise depositing the photoluminescent layer 120 to the uppersurface. In another optional embodiment, the photoluminescent layer 120is impregnated into the upper layer. In an optional embodiment, aphotoluminescent layer 120 may form a textual or graphical display thatis illuminated by the photoluminescent layer 120.

The photoluminescent layer 120 may be formed from any photoluminescentmaterial that absorbs radiant energy and emits light energy. Forexample, any number of non-radioactive photoluminescent materials couldbe used including various aluminum oxide ceramic pigments, such asalkaline earth metal aluminate oxide europium doped and alkaline earthmetal sulfide europium doped, zinc sulfide, strontium aluminate, or thelike. Optionally the photoluminescent material is selected from aphotoluminescent material that permits multiple uses, i.e. can absorbradiant energy and discharge light energy over multiple cycles.

In an optional embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the substrate110 may be received into a case 130. The case 130 may be substantiallytransparent or translucent such as acrylics or plastic through whichemitted light may pass. The case 130 at least partially receives andencases the substrate. In an optional embodiment, the case may include agraphical or textual display to complement the photoluminescent layer120 and cooperate to form a composite graphical or textual display byselectively permitting or blocking the emission of light from thephotoluminescent layer. In a further optional embodiment, the case mayinclude a photoluminescent layer to replace or complement thephotoluminescent layer on the substrate. In an optional embodiment, thecase 130 may include a formed image to capture, diffuse, and redirectemitted light from the photoluminescent layer 120. Such formed imagecould be created by many different processes including, but not limitedto, etching, embossing, debossing, cutting, or any other process wherematerial is removed or added through mechanical, electrical, or optical(e.g. laser) means.

Referring generally to FIGS. 1-4, a coaster device is utilized byexposing the photoluminescent layer 120 to a source of radiant energy,such as a light source. When the light source is extinguished, thephotoluminescent layer 120 emits light energy to glow to make thecoaster device, and any object resting on the coaster device such as adrinking glass, visible. In an optional embodiment in which thephotoluminescent layer 120 forms a graphical or textual display, thedisplay may be illuminated. Similarly, in an optional embodiment inwhich the substrate 110 is received into a case 130, any graphical ortextual display on or in the case 130 is illuminated.

While certain embodiments of the present invention have been shown anddescribed it is to be understood that the present invention is subjectto many modifications and changes without departing from the spirit andscope of the claims presented herein.

1. A coaster device, comprising: a substrate having an upper surface anda lower surface, said substrate having a brightening agent on at leastsaid upper surface of said substrate; and a photoluminescent layer onsaid upper surface absorbing radiant energy and emitting radiant energyin the form of light.
 2. The coaster device of claim 1 wherein saidphotoluminescent layer is selectively applied to form a displayilluminated by said photoluminescent layer.
 3. The coaster device ofclaim 1 wherein said photoluminescent layer forms a moisture resistantcoating over said substrate.
 4. The coaster device of claim 1 whereinsaid substrate is formed from a moisture absorbent material.
 5. Thecoaster device of claim 1 wherein said substrate is formed from amoisture resistant material.
 6. The coaster device of claim 1 whereinsaid brightening agent is integrated into said substrate.
 7. The coasterdevice of claim 1 wherein said brightening agent is applied to saidupper surface.
 8. The coaster device of claim 1 wherein saidphotoluminescent layer is impregnated into said upper surface.
 9. Thecoaster device of claim 1 wherein said photoluminescent layer is appliedto said upper surface.
 10. The coaster device of claim 1 furthercomprising a case receiving said substrate such that said substrate isat least partially encased in said case.
 11. The coaster device of claim10 wherein said case is transparent and includes a formed image suchthat said photoluminescent layer illuminates said image when saidsubstrate is encased in said case.
 12. The coaster device of claim 10wherein said case is translucent and includes a formed image such thatsaid photoluminescent layer illuminates said image when said substrateis encased in said case.
 13. A coaster device, comprising: a substratehaving an upper surface and a lower surface, said substrate formed froma moisture absorbent material having a brightening agent on at leastsaid upper surface of said substrate; and a photoluminescent layer onsaid upper surface absorbing radiant energy and emitting radiant energyin the form of light when the level of radiant energy available forabsorption falls below a predetermined level.
 14. The coaster device ofclaim 13 wherein said photoluminescent layer is selectively applied toform a display illuminated by said photoluminescent layer.
 15. Thecoaster device of claim 13 wherein said photoluminescent layer forms amoisture resistant coating over said substrate.
 16. The coaster deviceof claim 13 further comprising a moisture resistant layer applied tosaid lower surface.
 17. The coaster device of claim 13 wherein saidbrightening agent is integrated into said substrate.
 18. The coasterdevice of claim 13 wherein said brightening agent is applied to saidupper surface.
 19. The coaster device of claim 13 wherein saidphotoluminescent layer is impregnated into said upper surface.
 20. Thecoaster device of claim 13 wherein said photoluminescent layer isapplied to said upper surface.